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News :: Human Rights : International : Race : War and Militarism |
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Local Jews Protest Against War and Stand With Humanity |
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by Jonathan McIntosh
Email: jonnyrebellious (nospam) gmail.com (unverified!) |
10 Aug 2006
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On Thursday afternoon, August 10th, several dozen people from various Jewish peace organizations gathered for a demonstration at 126 High Street in downtown Boston. They came together at that location to protest under the banner “The Jewish organizations in this building do not speak for us!” |
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The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), American Jewish Committee (AJC), American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and other organizations housed at 126 High Street purport to speak for all Jews in Greater Boston. During the current crisis in the Middle East, JCRC leadership has frequently been quoted as saying, “The Jews of Boston have never been so united in their support of Israel.”
“We are demonstrating to show that many members of the Boston Jewish community, as throughout the world, in fact, oppose Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories and massive human rights abuses against the Lebanese and Palestinian people. We shall gather in mourning for all victims of the conflict -- in Lebanon, Gaza and Israel.” the group of demonstrators said in a statement on Thursday.
Organizers of the rally went on to say that “Many concerned local area Jews, including members of Jewish Voice for Peace-Boston and other activist groups have watched with horror as good people—community and political leaders, neighbors, and friends—have been lulled by soothing words of peace, of self-defense, of concern for the innocent, into supporting unqualified “We Stand with Israel” messages, in the process blinding themselves to Israel’s utter devastation of civilian populations and infrastructure first in Gaza and now in Lebanon. To “Stand with Humanity” is to say “NO!” to the carnage wrought in these massively unequal battles and to call for an end of U.S. support for Israel’s actions and for immediate cease-fires on both fronts.”
As further proof of a strong dissenting voice among Jews worldwide, organizers of the rally cited a statement by fellow peace activists in Israel that reads:
“Israel is committing extensive war crimes. A country is in ruins, whole communities are being uprooted, thousands of families destroyed, hundreds of civilians killed, and thousands of civilians injured. No excuse can whitewash these crimes. The abduction of two soldiers, the killings in centers of dense populations in the north of Israel, cannot [justify] the barbarity practiced by Israel in Lebanon (and at the same time in Gaza). Those crimes must be stopped. Right now!”
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Photos by Jonathan McIntosh
http://capedmaskedandarmed.com/photoblog |
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This work licensed under a
Creative Commons license. |
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Local Jews Protest Against War and Stand With Humanity |
by John Francis Lee
jfl (nospam) 28amen.org (verified) |
11 Aug 2006
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I think that the Jews of Boston are quietly, persistently putting one foot in front of the other and moving Jewish criticism of Israeli policies from wherever it was, beyond the pale certainly, to the street where it belongs.
I think your time spent bringing criticism of Israeli policies in the face of the far-right wing organizations that presume to represent American Jews is invaluable, and that it will have repercussions beyond Boston.
It's a very good thing that you are doing.
Please keep up the good work. |
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Jewish Women In San Francisco Take Stand Against War In Lebanon |
by cross post
(No verified email address) |
14 Aug 2006
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Jewish Women In San Francisco Take Stand Against War In Lebanon
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/08/13/18296884.php |
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Other Related Links |
by BIMC Editor
(No verified email address) |
15 Aug 2006
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Young Jews Stage Die In to Denounce Israeli Attacks on Civilians
http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/186754/index.php
Young Jews Support Palestinian Rights, Challenge AIPAC and JCRC by Holding Seder Outside Their Offices
http://boston.indymedia.org/index.php?limit_start=48 |
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Jews at protest? |
by www.voicesofpalestine.org
(No verified email address) |
31 Aug 2006
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Thanks, but at the protests against Israels terrorism that I have attended you could count the Jews there on one hand. The sad reality is that most Jews are Zionist racists that only care about themselves. If Palestine will be liberated, Jews will have done little about it. |
